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Towards Maximal Cell Density Predictions for Polymeric Foams

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Date

2011-10-04

Authors

Thompson, Russell B.
Kim, Yeongyoon
Park, Chul B.
Chen, P.

Advisor

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Elsevier

Abstract

Self-consistent field theory is used to make direct predictions for the maximum possible cell densities for model polymer foam systems without recourse to classical nucleation theory or activation barrier kinetic arguments. Maximum possible cell density predictions are also made subject to constraining the systems to have maximal possible internal interface and to have well formed bubbles (no deviation from bulk conditions on the interior of the bubble). This last condition is found to be the most restrictive on possible cell densities. Comparison is made with classical nucleation theory and it is found that the surface tension is not an important independent consideration for predicting conditions consistent with high cell density polymeric foams or achieving the smallest possible bubble sizes. Instead, the volume free energy density, often labelled as a pressure difference, is the dominant factor for both cell densities and cell sizes.

Description

Published by Elsevier in the journal "Polymer" volume 52, issue 24. doi:10.1016/j.polymer.2011.09.046.

Keywords

Self-consistent field theory, polymers, polymer foams, classical nucleation theory

LC Subject Headings

Citation